Richard Hernandez; Lawyer, County Housing Commissioner

Richard A. Hernandez, 54, Los Angeles County commissioner of housing and economic development. A native of Los Angeles, Hernandez was educated at St. Mary’s College, Cal State L.A. and the Loyola University School of Law. The politically involved lawyer was an aide to former Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty. In 1982, Hernandez was elected chairman of the newly organized California Republican Hispanic Council. He practiced law in the partnership Hernandez & Flynn in Beverly Hills, and later went into banking and real estate. At the time of his death, Hernandez was chief executive officer of the Legacy Group, a political and business consulting firm. On Saturday in Encino of cardiac arrest.